Combination dehydrator and condensed water dispenser

• US 6,931,756 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: H20LIQUIDAIR Of Florida LLC (H20LIQUIDAIR Incorporated), H2OLiquidair of Florida, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mike & Janet Morgan LLC
• Inventors: Morgan, Michael, Morgan, Janet
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Camtu
• Application Number:
  US10/167,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20030097763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 342/02, 342/01, 34/69, 34/71, 34/76, 341/97, 34/73, 341/96, 34/77, 34/78, 34/86, 62/91, 62/92, 62/93, 165/58, 165/59, 165/60, 165/61
• US Class Current: 34/202
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/001 Drying-air generating units, e.g. movable, independent of drying enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/086 by condensing the moisture in the drying medium, which may be recycled, e.g. using a heat pump cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable

Abstract

A portable, atmospheric dehydrator and water condenser for dehydrating fruits and vegetables while producing pure atmospheric condensation from humidity found in the air and purifying the water for dispensing and drinking purposes.

Claims

1. A method for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising the steps of:

drawing ambient air across cooling means thereby cooling said ambient air;

heat exchanging the cooled air and dispensing the same as heated air across a storage chamber adapted to hold therein fruits or vegetables or the like to remove moisture therefrom;

transferring the moisture removed from said fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system thereby filtering and purifying said removed moisture to form potable water.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of drawing said air includes the step of intaking said air through a whisper-quiet fan while filtering the same.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dispensing said heated air to said fruits or vegetables or the like includes the step of passing said heated air through a panel having a plurality of spaced open louvers therein.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dispensing said heated air includes the step of passing said heated air through a duct to said fruits or vegetables or the like.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of passing said heated air through a duct includes the step of baffling said air while passing the same through said duct to control the rate of speed of said air within said duct while passing it therethrough.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transferring said moisture includes the step of passing said moisture through a filter prior to passing the same into a holding tank.

7. The method of claim 6 including the step of monitoring the level of water in said holding tank to draw said ambient air across said cooling means when said level reaches a predetermined lower level in said holding tank.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of filtering said water includes the step of passing said water through an ultra violet light.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 including a computer mounted in said housing for operating said apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 including a 12-volt inverter adapter mounted on said housing.

9. A method for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising the steps of:

drawing ambient air across cooling means thereby cooling said ambient air;

heat exchanging the cooled air and dispensing the same as heated air across a storage chamber adapted to hold therein fruits or vegetables or the like to remove moisture therefrom;

transferring the moisture removed from said fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system thereby filtering and purifying said removed moisture to form potable water;

wherein the step of transferring said moisture includes the step of passing said moisture through a filter prior to passing the same into a holding tank;

the method further including the step of monitoring the level of water in said holding tank to draw said ambient air across said cooling means when said level reaches a predetermined lower level in said holding tank; and

wherein the step of filtering includes the step of passing said water successively through a five stage Pi filtration comprising;

a first sediment filter;

a second micron matrix+one filter;

a third ste-o-tap filter;

a fourth post carbon filter; and

a fifth Pi filter.

10. The method of claim 9 including the step of transferring the filtered water from said fifth Pi filter to a second holding tank.

11. The method of claim 10 including the step of transferring condensation from said step of cooling said first mentioned holding tank remote from said second holding tank.

12. The method of claim 11 including the step of adding minerals to said water being transferred from said second holding tank to a cold water dispenser.

13. The method of claim 12 including the step of removing water from said second holding tank to said cold water dispenser.

14. The method of claim 12 including the step of removing water from said second holding tank to a hot water dispenser while heating the same.

15. A method for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising the steps of:

drawing ambient air across cooling means thereby cooling said ambient air;

heat exchanging the cooled air and dispensing the same as heated air across a storage chamber adapted to hold therein fruits or vegetables or the like to remove moisture therefrom;

transferring the moisture removed from said fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system thereby filtering and purifying said removed moisture to form potable water; and

treating said potable water to add colloidal silver thereto.

16. Apparatus for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising:

a housing;

ambient air intake means mounted in said housing;

cooling means mounted in said housing in fluid communication with said air being drawn into said housing through said intake means;

heat-exchanging means in fluid communication with air cooled by said cooling means for heating said cooled air;

a storage chamber associated with said housing having a plurality of spaced shelves adapted to hold fruits or vegetables or the like thereon;

heated air dispersion means associated with both said heat exchanging means and said shelves for dispersing said heated air into contact with said shelves thereby dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like on said shelves;

transferring moisture from said dried fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system; and

filtering means in said system for filtering and purifying said removed moisture.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said dispersion means includes a panel having a plurality of spaced open louvers between said heat exchanging means and said shelves in the path of said heated air from said heat exchanging means.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said dispersion means includes a duct between said heat exchanging means and said shelves in fluid communication therewith.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said duct is baffled on the interior thereof to control the rate and flow of air therethrough.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 including a first water holding tank in fluid communication with said cooling means.

21. Apparatus for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising:

a housing;

ambient air intake means mounted in said housing;

cooling means mounted in said housing in fluid communication with said air being drawn into said housing through said intake means;

heat-exchanging means in fluid communication with air cooled by said cooling means for heating said cooled air;

a storage chamber associated with said housing having a plurality of spaced shelves adapted to hold fruits or vegetables or the like thereon;

heated air dispersion means associated with both said heat exchanging means and said shelves for dispersing said heated air into contact with said shelves thereby dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like on said shelves;

means for transferring moisture from said dried fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system; and

filtering means in said system for filtering and purifying said removed moisture;

wherein said dispersion means includes a duct between said heat exchanging means and said shelves in fluid communication therewith; and

wherein said filtering system includes five stage Pi filtration comprising;

a first sediment filter;

a second micron matrix+one filter in fluid communication with said first filter;

a third ste-o-tap filter in fluid communication with said second filter;

a fourth post carbon filter in fluid communication with said third filter; and

a fifth Pi filter in fluid communication with said fourth filter.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 including a second water holding tank in fluid communication with said fifth filter.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 including mineral adding means associated with said second holding tank and a cold water dispenser in fluid communication with said second holding tank for adding minerals to said water.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 including a hot water dispenser having heating means associated therewith in fluid communication with said second holding tank.

27. Apparatus for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising:

a housing;

ambient air intake means mounted in said housing;

cooling means mounted in said housing in fluid communication with said air being drawn into said housing through said intake means;

heat-exchanging means in fluid communication with air cooled by said cooling means for heating said cooled air;

a storage chamber associated with said housing having a plurality of spaced shelves adapted to hold fruits or vegetables or the like thereon;

heated air dispersion means associated with both said heat exchanging means and said shelves for dispersing said heated air into contact with said shelves thereby dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like on said shelves;

means for transferring moisture from said dried fruits or vegetables or the like to a filtering system; and

filtering means in said system for filtering and purifying said removed moisture;

the apparatus including silver adding means associated with said potable water for adding colloidal silver to same water.

28. A portable dehydration and water condensation system for dehydrating fruits or vegetables or the like comprising:

a. A dehydrator for holding fruits or vegetables or the like;

b. humidity removal means for drawing humid ambient air from the atmosphere for removing humidity from said ambient air thereby forming dry heated air; and

c. dispensing means for dispensing said dry heated air to said dehydrator to thereby dehydrate said fruits or vegetables or the like and remove moisture therefrom;

d. including the step of recovering moisture from said fruits or vegetables after dehydrating the same and purifying said moisture to form potable drinking water.